Tyrone blast way to 14-point win: Match report

Tyrone 3-15 Laois 2-4

All-Ireland champions Tyrone blasted their way into the quarter-finals with a 14-point demolition of Laois at Croke Park.

Mick O'Dwyer's side, forced to play three games in the space of a fortnight, looked a spent force from the early stages as the Red Hands ran riot and scored at will.

Laois, after trailing by 13 points at half-time, did hit back with two second half goals, but Tyrone regrouped and staged a strong finish to win with plenty to spare.

Shane Cooke hit the opening point of the game in the second minute, but that was to be Laois's only first half score, as the All-Ireland champions cut loose.

Fluid, expansive, comfortable on the ball and lethal with the finish, Tyrone were simply awesome as the Leinster men retreated and ultimately lost their way.

Mulligan hit the first goal in the fourth minute, punching to the net from Sean Cavanagh's cross, and points lew over the bar from the boots of Mark Harte, Stephen O'Neill and the brilliant Mulligan, who was giving Cahal Ryan a roasting.

The Red Hands struck for a second goal on the half-hour, Brian Dooher and O'Neill combining for Harte to take and blast to the roof of the net.

There was no respite for a shattered Laois side, and when Mulligan and O'Neill both swung over sublime points from each wing, the champions were well on their way by half-time, leading by 2-8 to 0-1.

Mulligan was forced out by an ankle injury early in the second half, and suddenly the scores dried up.

Laois managed to lift themselves and take the game to the champions, and were rewarded when Brian McDonald drilled home a 37th minute goal.

And they closed the gap with points from McDonald and Cooke, as Tyrone went almost 18 minutes without a score, until Cavanagh pwered over ahis second point.

But Laois hit back immediately with a seciond goal, substiute Gary Kavanagh sending Kevin Fitzpatrick through for a thumping finish.

Now a 13-point lead had been whittled down to six, and Laois suddenly sensed that they could get something from this game.

But the tide turned again, with Brian McGuigan and Harte back on target, and Laois lost top scorer McDonald with a broken leg.

McGuigan and O'Neill combined to send Harte in for his second goal, and normal service was resumed, the 13-point cushion restored.

And the champions finished in style, Cavanagh and McGuigan sweeping over late points.